"Ha Seung-Jin is healthier than ever," said coach Yoo Jae-Hak, who noted that Ha brings size his team hasn't had the past two years.

Ha is in a 24-player pool for Korea as the team preps for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games, which South Korea is hosting.

The Blazers drafted Ha with the No. 46 pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He was traded to Milwaukee along with Steve Blake and Brian Skinner in July 2006 in the deal that brought Jamaal Magloire to Portland. Ha averaged 1.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 6.9 minutes in 46 games for the Blazers, but Portland fans might best remember Ha for his summer 2005 scuffle with Nedzad Sinanovic. To the John Canzano archives we go ...

My favorite Ha memory has to be the story about the 7-foot-3 Ha chasing the 7-foot-4 Ned Sinanovic around the practice facility last summer with a wooden pole.

In case you missed it, the two players were shooting free throws at the end of a rough workout against each other. Sounds peaceful enough, until... Sinanovic made his final free throw, then retrieved the basketball and held it. Ha walked over, because it was his turn, and snatched the ball back. Then, Sinanovic said something under his breath and two giant men ended up on the ground in a pile of wildly swinging elbows and fists.

The fight was broken up by Blazers staffers, and insiders said Ha, who got punched, was left shouting, "I'll sue! I'll sue!"